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Kennedy MVD, SM and nose problems

Good news and bad news. I went with my friend to see cardiologist after vet said he had fluid in lungs on verge of CHF and prescribed vetmedin. Good thing because the good news is his heart is not bad. She saw tiny enlargement on one side but not concerned and said it would not be to the point where it would have caused fluid in lungs. She thinks that was due to something else. She had a print out of the heart and described everything. Kat asked about it being a grade 3 and she said it is more about the stage he is in and he is not close to being in CHF.

What did concern her was his breathing. Kat did test of how many breaths he takes sleeping and it's very low which is good. However, she felt he was not able to get enough oxygen. She said she did not think it had anything to do with palette so she had another specialist look and his nostrils are closed or something. He is being left with specialist because this is probably why he stops breathing.

Now for CM/SM. she noticed he was scratching quite a bit and had neurologist evaluate him. He did neck squeeze and he yelped. Kat had told me recently that he has been having trouble with fleas before this. I've been around Kennedy a lot and have never noticed scratching or any other symptoms of CM/SM. she said to put in back of her mind because his breathing issues is most important.
Kat has been around me dealing with Ella and of course that freaked her out. Honestly, does any cavalier pass the squeeze test. He's still at hospital but I would like to see what the neurologist says. I just don't see that with Kennedy but they can hide pain so well,

I hope they figure out what he needs soon and he's feeling better very soon- sounds like the specialist was just what was needed.

(on a side note, thanks Rod Russell- you saved me a bunch of google time- now I'm pretty sure know why our new boxer grunts like a groundhog on occasion, and I can bring it up at the vet having done my research- she has nostrils that look halfway between the "before" and "after" pics of surgery for stenotic nares, and maybe has a little of a long palate issue based on what I've been reading, but since her gums are nice and pink after "boxer burns" and the grunting is not constant, nor is her snoring, I feel better after reading the articles- how often do you google a disease and actually feel better after reading up about it? lol).

Sounds like a brachycephalic issue. Could be stenotic nares -- abnormally narrow or obstructed nostrils. What do the holes in his nose look like?

He does have BAOS and had surgery but it never fixed anything. She (cardiologist) said holes looked enclosed/ slanted inward. He is staying there to have the specialist look more and talk about his options- surgery etc. She said it wouldn't have anything to do with palette but she was really concerned with him not getting enough air and so was the specialist.

As far as being uncomfortable at night and restlessness (which could be from if he has CM/SM) she feels it is his breathing problems and to get that looked into. Then keep in back of mind to see Dr. Bergman (neurologist) if he is still not helped because it could be pain. Etc.

A couple of my dogs would pass the squeeze test without any issue at all.

Sounds like a very good cardio and given that yelp I'd say she absolutely is right that he has CM/SM.

Scary that a dog can just stop breathing. These problems with flatter-faced dogs is alarming. For example with pugs, that flat face means they regularly have severe breathing problems -- and owners just think it is cute. YouTube has a lot of videos of people with 'funny' pugs seeming to fall asleep while sitting up. The reason they do that is lack of oxygen. The reason they sleep sitting up is that like many bulldogs, they cannot get enough oxygen sleeping in a normal position.

One reason I knew it was time for me neighbour's cavalier Susie (a rescue I placed with him) was when she started to need to sleep half-sitting up -- it was clear she wasn't getting enough oxygen any more with her MVD; heart enlargement and fluid.

I really do think people must start to rethink breeding dogs deliberately with faces that cannot supply enough oxygen to a significant number of the breed.

Glad that she saw a cardiologist. I felt almost certain of the above outcome as your earlier narrative just didn't make sense.

And, yes, there are Cavaliers that pass the squeeze test.

Pat

I'm glad she saw cardiologist also. The cardiologist said she was glad she came in before giving Vetmedin because he definitely doesn't need it. He wasn't coughing, exercise ok, and eating fine which were all good. She explained that there is loosening that can cause some backflow (I can't remember even though she explained it very well) but nowhere near where it would cause fluid in lungs.

I'm glad she had him see other specialists because if it isn't his heart causing his breathing issues, something is. It's not normal what he has been doing poor thing. I am glad his in good hands.

I'm glad she saw cardiologist also. The cardiologist said she was glad she came in before giving Vetmedin because he definitely doesn't need it. He wasn't coughing, exercise ok, and eating fine which were all good. She explained that there is loosening that can cause some backflow (I can't remember even though she explained it very well) but nowhere near where it would cause fluid in lungs.

I'm glad she had him see other specialists because if it isn't his heart causing his breathing issues, something is. It's not normal what he has been doing poor thing. I am glad his in good hands.

It is particularly important to not let most general practice vets prescribe Vetmedin (pimobendan) without at least consulting with a cardiologist or internal medicine specialist. Vetmedin administered too early can make things a lot worse for the dog, than better.

It is particularly important to not let most general practice vets prescribe Vetmedin (pimobendan) without at least consulting with a cardiologist or internal medicine specialist. Vetmedin administered too early can make things a lot worse for the dog, than better.

I am so thankful to you for having that warning on your website. If it had not been for that, she would not have seen a cardiologist and the vet would be treating kennedy with Vetmedin and for his heart. Going to the cardiologist led to answers that his heart isn't as bad as thought (but she has all his diagnostics for future) to hopefully helping his real problem. Breathing and if he is having pain from what neurologist found in clinical exam. Good thing that she recognized that something else is causing these issues.

It is particularly important to not let most general practice vets prescribe Vetmedin (pimobendan) without at least consulting with a cardiologist or internal medicine specialist. Vetmedin administered too early can make things a lot worse for the dog, than better.